Marine steering-gear.



L.- O. BURNS.

MARINE STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1912.

Patented Sept,23,1913.

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UN 11E STATES ATENT UFFICE.

LESLIE CAULDWELL BURNS, 01F UNION HILL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-HAIAF TO CYRUS J. WALTERS BURNS, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

MARINE STEERING-GEAR.

Application filed August 29, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23,1913.

Serial No. 717,784.

To all whom it may concern.

. Be it known that l, Lnsnin CA'ULD'WELL BURNS, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Union llill, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Iniprovement in Marine Steering-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to steering gear and particularly to a power operated gear, the object of my invention being to provide a simple, pressure fluid driven apparatus for operating the tiller, which may be easily controlled from the pilot room.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention in one form, with a diagrammatic connector to the tiller; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the pressure cylinder.

In the form shown, the present apparatus is particularly adapted for operation by steam pressure. The power cylinder 5 may be of ordinary type for steam pressure, and is provided with a piston 6, the rod of which extends through both heads of the cylinder and is connected at opposite ends through a suitable harness 7 of ropes, chains, rods, etc. and any suitable multiplying gear, it desired, to the tiller 8 of the rudder stem 9. Steam is led into the cylinder through the port 10 and exhausted through outlet port 11. Two valves 12 and 13 control the admission of-the steam to the piston chamber and corresponding valves l t-15 control the exhaust.

The four valves are interconnected through links 16, 17, 1S and 19, pivoted in pairs at 20 and 21 on opposite sides of the axis 22 of a suitable oscillating member, such as bevel pinion 23. The latter receives its motion, by any desired operative connection, from a manually controlled member in the pilot-chamber, for example, from a common steering hand-wheel 2 1, which transmits its motion through rod 26 and bevel gear 27 to the pinion 23. Any suitable means, such as spring arms 28 embracing a stud 29 on the pinion 23, tend to return the latter to normal position after deflection.

In normal position, the inlet valves 12 and 13 are both open so that the steam is freely admitted to the opposite faces of the piston 6, While the outlet valves 14 and 15 are both closed. Should it be desired to move the piston to the right, the hand wheel is operated to rotate the pinion 2;} cloclnvise. This rotates the four valves on their respectneaXes in such manner as to open further the valve 19, simultaneously closing valve 13. At the same time valve 1 1-, while ro' tated, remains closed, whereas 15 opens. Steam is thus cut oil from the portion of the chamber to the right of the piston 6 and this portion exhausted, while steam is .tullv admitted to the left hand face of the pistoii, with the result that the piston travels toward the right hand end of the piston cylinder and actuates the tiller through the harness 7.

As soon as the desired course is set, the hand wheel 2% is released, whereupon the spring 28 returns the valves to normal position admitting steam to both sides of the piston 6, and closing the exhaust 15. The piston 6 then returns to mid'position under the influence of the water pressure against the rudder acting through the harness 7.

Under ordinary circumstances, the posi' tion of the rudder will be shown to the hehnsn'lan by an indicator of well known character. Should it be desired to lock the rudder in any angular position, this can readily be accomplished by any suitable gripping device engaging the piston rod. For simplicity of illustration I have shown a ratchet 30 formed in each end of the piston rod beyond the portion which passes through the stulling box and engaged by a pawl til (or gripping jaws 32, as illustrated on the left hand side of the cylinder) which may be controlled by the hchnsman through a lever rod 33. Obviously this mechanism is merely illustrative of the invention which contemplates anysuitablc device For gripping the piston rod so as to lock the rudder in the position to which it has been shifted by the piston 6.

IVhile under ordinary circumstances the piston 6 will be moved at relatively slow speed toward the end of the cylinder, it is advisable to provide cushioning means to prevent injury to the piston in case it should be forced suddenly into end position, as for example when in rough weather the rudder or other convenient point in advance of the valve-open on theyopposite-side]bf the pis- Valves and 13., Should the piston adton, together; 'th {spring means for auto-' 60 va nce far enough to press the projecting matically i'etii ng and ya-lyes i-t-o normal valve-stem 35, the valve 34 is openedand position upon release of the iiianual consteamadinitted which forms a cushion pretrollingmeans,substantially as described.

' ventingfinjury t0 the piston! 4, A motor for actuating steering gear of 1' tlhe japparatusshown is to be. regarded the character described, comprising a fluid '65 merely 81S an-exemplary embodiment of my p'ress tlife cylinder, 3,. piston working therein invention l a pisto'n rod" extending beyond'each end of I claimlas my invention p the cylinder to afford means for an oper- 1.*Ainotorffor actuating s'tee'ringjgear of ative connectionjto the rudder, inlet and --the"" chazfaeter described,comprising a fluid outlet valves opening to each end otthe pispressure cylindei',a--'piston Workin therein, ton "cylinder, said, inletjvalvesbeing nora pist n, rod extending beyond .feac endpof mally in the open-position ito'ad-mi'tfluid T5 the cylinder-'to'afi'ord means for" 'an opto the opposite. faces ,of the-piston and said erative connection to a rudder, inlet and outlet valves, in normal'posit-ion, being both :outlet valves opening to' each end ofthe' closed,- in combination With-an tis'c'illatiiig .75 piston cylinder and a geared. disk, connectmember to which said valves are pivotally ing-rods theretrom to each of. said valves connected and manually controlled -mea;ns

. "20 and a manually controlled pinion for Io-E for rotating said oscillating 'lnemberon its tating said disk to simultaneously actuate pivot, together'with spring means engaging "said valves, substantially as described. said oscillating member for automatically '21-'28 motor for. actuatingsteering gear of returning thesanie to-normal position upon the character 'des cribed, comprising a fluid, release of the hand controlling-means, sub- 25 pressure cylinder, :1 piston working therein, stanti'ally as described,

a piston extending beyond each end of; '5; A motor for actuatingsteering gear of the'cylinder to afford means for an oper-'.- the character described, comprising a'fluid *tftive connection, to the rudder, inlet and; pressure cylinder, a, pistonworking therein, ontlet yalvesopening to each end of''tl1e. a piston rodfe'xteiiding beyond each end of 3'0 piston cylinder, .saidliiilet valves being northe cylinder to afford means for oper- 'mally in theopen position to admit fluid to the ative connection to a 'i'udder, T'valve means opposite facesof the piston and said outlet for distributing the pressure-fluid to'oppovalves in normal position being both clo'sed,j site faces of the piston and means independin combination with a geared disk, eonnectent of the valves for-holding said piston rod 35 ing rods therefrom to each of said valves in, any desired positionivhile. the valves are "and a manually controlled pinion. for rotat permitted-to returnto normal, Position, for ing said disk to simultaneously close the; the purpose described. l finlefiyalve and. open the exhaust. valve on 6. 'k-motor for, actuating steering gear of fonesid'eof the piston tvhilcmaintaining the -the character'fdescribed, comprising 'a', fluid '40 exhaust: valve closed and the inlet. valve? pressurecylinder a piston Working therein, open on the opposite side of the piston, sub-' piston rod extending beyond each end of stantially as described. the cylinder to afford: eans'for an oper- A motortor,actuatingsteering-gear-of ative connection to the ruddeigfvalve means the character described, comprising a fluid for distributing the pressure fi'ui d t'o oppo- 45 pressure cylinder, apistonavorking therein','; site-facesof said piston, togetherwith means a piston rod extending beyond each end ofk independentof the valves for engaging said 'the' 'cylinderfto .afi'ord means: for an op' e, .piston'rod to hold thesame'in any desired erative connection to a rudder, inlet and position While-the valves" are permitted to outlet valves opening to" eaclieud of the return to normal position, for the purpose 50 piston cylinder, said inlet valves being-non described.

.mally in theopen position to. admit fluid In testimony whereof I have signed my to the opposite faces of the piston and said, name to, this: specification, in the presence outlet valtes normal position beirig both? of two, subscribing Witnesses closed, l11 C0l11 ination' with -manu aly con A Y L I i f 55 trolled meansifor simultaneously closing the; L GAULDVELL U inlet valve and. opening "the exhaust valve" Witnesses: on onei sid'e of the piston-while maintain- L. H. Gno'rn,. ing the exhaust valve closed and the inlet WILLIAM Anne. 

